Inactive tub........damage?

[Zep]

I have a friend that wants advice and I don't know the answer.

My friend has an elderly mother that purchased a hot tub for
her back problem a couple of years ago.

Now my friend's Mom had a minor stroke and she is not able
to use the hot tub at this time.

He thinks his Mother could be in an assisted living / nursing home
within the next year or so.

So his question is.....would it harm the tub to just drain it and not
use it for say 6 months?...a year?...two years?

He does not want to use the tub and would prefer to save the
electricity and chemical maintenance and just shut it down.

Then when the time comes to sell the house.....
fill the tub back up for potential buyers to see?

Does it damage a tub to drain it and leave it sitting?

He is worried after he drains it that some water could be left
in the lines....freeze....and then cause some damage?

What about the pumps sitting idle for extended period?

[anne]

I bet someone who knows the answer will chime in, but isn't what you are talking about basically "winterizing"? I'd search on that. I think that spa techs can be called out to do this for you, as there are right and wrong ways.

[nothing]

Not sure about this in general but I do know that in Phoenix AZ or very hot climates it's a bad idea, my co-worker was telling me how he "winterized" his tub (in the summer that is) and drained it, with the cover on and no water in the tub it dried out all the seals and the thing leaked like a sieve when he went to refill it.

[Zep]

yeah it may be better to just keep water in it....
keep the heat as low as possible.....but I think
he is wantng to drain it and be done with it.

I guess tubs sit at the factory and in warehouses
for extended periods with no water in them?

[stuart]

Spas were made to have water in them...You can winterize the spa for a time however you still get rubber componets drying out. In some areas of the country you can have molds build up if you don't get all the water out.

I've always been a proponent of keeping the spa full and opperating.

A trick for them however is to turn the heat down to about 80...Won't use as much energy nor will it need as much chemical maintinance.

If he does drain it pull the unions loose at the pump.

In fact, let me know what brand and I can give better directions.

[glfahlc]

another idea to completely clear the tub of water might be to take a wet/dry vac and blow the lines down after disconnecting pump lines. connect vacuum hose to the exhaust on the vac and put hose over each and every jet.